Wringer mechanism



Aug. 19 1924.

J. CROSSLEY WRINGER MECHANISM 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Dec. 9, i920 WM W4 AYIORNEY.

Aug. 19 9 1924. 1,505,869

.1. CROSSLEY WRINGER MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 9, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 134 Ec h 0 1 5 3 193 lg i Z z INVENTOR.

I BY

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH GROSSLEY, 0F TBENTON, NEW JERSEY.

WBINGER MECHANISI.

Application filed December 9, 1920. Serial No. 429,478.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JosErH Cnossnnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wringer Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wringer mechanism for use in washing operations, an object of which is to provide wringer mechanism to be driven by the motive power of the washing machine with which it is used, and which may be folded when not in use to an out of the way position without disturbing or affecting the power connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for use in connection with washing machines capable of being moved to a number of different positions, capable of'being folded down into the tub when not in use so as to be out of the way, and which, when in set-up or operative position, may be so moved as to perform the wringing operation in a number of positions.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken through a tub of the preferred form of the invention and illustrating the application thereto of cylinder and wringer operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention; the cylinder being removed from 'the tub and a wringer being shown in the position it will assume when in closed or inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the wringer mechanism, the movable cover of the wringer casing being removed, and parts of the mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon line 1212 of Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken upon line 1313 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken upon line 14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the washing machine with the wringer swung inwardly to inoperative position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the wringer extending straight up;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the wringer extended beyond the sides of the tub;

Fig. 9 is a face view of a frame to which the motor, power-transmitting mechanism and wringer may as a unit be attached, to adapt this mechanism for use with generally em loyedlaundry tubs; and

ig. 10 is a detail view showing how the frame may be attached to the laundry tub.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention includes a tub indicated at 25. This tub may be formed of suitable metal and of any a propriate and desired size, and is preferably enameled so as to present a neat and attractive appearance. Near one end of the tub and at the bottom thereof is a waste pipe 26 to enable the tub' to be readily drained, and the pipe may be connected to the main of a sewer system. The tub is also equipped with a faucet 27 disposed in convenient position within the tub. It will be noted that the tub is rectangular in plan, the end walls being vertical, while the side or longitudinal walls are curved at their lower ends so that the tub in cross section will have its lower portion of substantially semi-cylindrical shape. The tub is supported by a central pedestal indicated at 28.

A motor 30 is arranged within the tub 25, and through suitable mechanism, not necessary to describe, operates the connecting shaft 97 to drive the wringer mechanism presently to be described.

Secured within the tub near the upper edge thereof, upon the side wall of the tub opposite to the motor and relatively close to the end wall adjacent thereto is a gear casing 96. This r casing receives the end of the connectin shaft 97.. The upper end of the shaft is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing in the said casing 96 and carries a beveled gear 98 confined by the said casin This beveled gear is in mesh with a similar gear 99 confined by the casing and carried by a wringer driving shaft 100. This driving shaft is mounted at its inner end in a suitable bearing in the said casing, and projects rearwardly from the said casing and into the tub horizontally and parallel with the end wall of the tub. The shaft 100 is squared throughout its length with the exception of such portions thereof as must necessarily be rounded to provide bearing surfaces. The shaft 100 is substantially equal in length to the width of the tub, and is mounted at its other extremity in a bearing 101 passing through the end wall of the casing. This bearing is provided with a rear-wardly extending stem 102 which protrudes through the end of the tub and loosely through block 103 on the exterior surface of the tub wall, and is threaded at its rear extremity as shown. The threaded end of the stem receives the threaded bore of hand wheel 104, and it is obvious that by rotating the wheel in one direction, the bearing 101 may be drawn real-wardly toward the adjacent wall of the tub.

The casing for the wringer mechanism is indicated at 105, and is adapted to slide longitudinally upon the shaft 100. This casing is provided in its front face with a hinged wall or panel 106 fitting closely upon the casing, and obviously permitting 0 access being had to the interior of the' wringer casing. The casing near one end is provided with spaced bearings 107 which receive trunnions 108 projecting from the opposite faces of a gear 109 confined be tween the said beapi ngs, and this gear and trunnions are squared to accommodate the similarly shaped shaft 100. It is obvious, that this construction enables the shaft 100 to support the wringer casing, yet permits of the latter moving longitudinally upon the said shaft, and at the same time, enables rotary movement developed in shaft 100 to be transmitted to gear 109. The opposite end of the casing rests upon a supporting roller 110 secured to the end wall of the tub and this roller permits free sliding movement of the said casing. The casing is provided in its rear wall with a longitudinal slot 111 through which protrudes the stem 102' of bearing 101, and it is obvious that by such construction, clamping action delivered to stem 102 by rotation of hand wheel 104 will cause bearing 101 to force the casing 105 rearwardly toward the end wall of the tub. The casing when slid outwardly passes through a notched portion 112 in the side wall of the tub, such notch conforming to the shape of the said casing and being of equal breadth therewith. When the casing has been moved inwardly, its outer end is disposed within the side wall of the tub, so that the casing is entirely confined thereby, and the said wringer casing is adapted to swing downwardly with the shaft 100 as its pivot so as to lie wholly below the plane of the 'upper edges of the tub. To this end, a slot 113 is made in the casing upon the rear wall and near the outer end thereof and extending I down partly around the rounded bottom of the said casing; the said slot communicating at its upper end with the longitudinally disposed slot 111. This short slot 113 accommodates stem 102 of belearing 101 when the swinging action takes ace. p The casing 105 is provided near its ends with pairs of spaced parallel upwardly disposed guides 114, each of the guide members being provided upon its inner face with a longitudinally disposed channel as shown. The uides are maintained in proper spaced parallel relation by the retaining bolts 115. Each pair of guides supports the rectangular bearing blocks 116 which have confined therein, antifriction rollers 117 upon which the shafts 118 of the wringer rolls 119 rest. By mounting the shafts of the wringer rolls in this manner, it is obvious that the latter may be moved longitudinally of the guides, but by reason of the fact that the shaft of the lower wringer roll 119 is fixed in a bearing secured to the casin only the upper wringer roll is capable 0 moving laterally. The shaft 118 of the lower wringer roll 119 protrudes beyond its anti-friction bearing block at one end and is provided with a gear 120 in mesh with gear 109. The extreme inner end of this wringer roll shaft is mounted in a bearing 121 secured in the wringer casing. Intermeshing tooth wheels or gears 122 upon the shafts 118 of wringer rolls 119 cause movement developed in the lowermost wringerroll to be transmitted to the upper wringer roll.

The anti-friction bearing blocks supporting the lower wringer roll shaft rest in cradles 123 confined between the guides 114 of each pair. The bearing blocks 116 of the upper wringer roll shaft are engaged upon their upper sides by blocks 124 confined between the guides 114 of each pair, and these blocks, in turn, support the ends of a spanner 125 of the usual construction. This spanner is engaged by a compression spring 126, and the latter may be tensioned by moving bar 127 downwardly. The movement of this bar is governed by operation of the hand control screw shank 128 threaded in the upper part of the wringer casing. One of these screw shanks is provided with a quick release device whereby the tension may be immediately relieved during the operation of the machine should it be re quired. To this end, the screw shank 128 extends loosely through an upstanding tubular member 129 upon the wringer casing, and this tubular member confines an annular member 130 having a threaded central bore to receive the screw shank. The tubular member 130 has a handle 131 extending therefrom and through a bayonet slot 132 in the tubular member 129. lVhen the handle is moved into the laterally disposed portion of the bayonet slot, it is obvious that rotation of the screw shank 128 may be carried out to elevate or depress the bar 127, but should it be required to quickly release the tension of s rin 126, it is but necessary to swing the lian e 131 outwardly until it moves into the vertically disposed portion of bayonet slot 132.

When it is desired to operate the wringer so that the water from the clothes passing therethrough will fall into the tub 25, the wringer mechanism is swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This may be done by grasping the handle 133 at the outer end of the wringer casing. When in the position shown, the hand wheel 104 is rotated so as to clamp bearing block 101 against the rear face of the wringer casing, whereby the latter will be forced securely against the tub wall. The motor 30 is started and the shaft 97 rotates; this motion being imparted toshaft 100, as will beunderstood. The fabric is then passed through openings 134 in the wringer casing so that such fabric will engage between the wringer rolls. The tension of the rolls will of course be governed by operation of the hand screws at the top of the wringer casing. Should it be desired to operate the wringer in such manner as to wring the clothes independent of the tub 25, the clamping device 104 is operated so as to release the wringer casing, whereupon the wringer in its entirety may be slid out into the position shown in Fig. 8. When so positioned, the wringer casing at its inner end will rest in the notch-112, and tightening of the clamping device 104 will maintain the wringer rigidly in proper position. The wringmg of clothes may thus be performed exteriorly of the tub 25, as will be obvious. The roller 110 is at all times in engagement with the base of the casing, and in addition to assisting with the support of the latter, reduces friction to a. minimum, whereby the easy and smooth movement of the wringer mechanism is facilitated.

The closure 106 for the wringer casing may be provided with latch mechanism 140, whereby the closure is held in closed position but may be released when it is desired to have access to the interior of the casing. To the top edge of the tub, at one side thereof, is hingedly connected a cover 141 which is of the same size as the top of the casing or tub, and when not in use, the wringer is swung inwardly of the tub and the cover let down so as to securely closethe to of the tub, and thus provide a table sur ace.

In instances where it is desired to provide wringer mechanism for use in connection with the ordinary stationary laundry tub or sink, the housing for the motor, the housing for the power mechanism, as well as the housing for the wringer driving mechanism may be formed together and attached to a spider 145 as shown in Fig. 9. The gear casing 96 will also be attached permanently to the spider or frame, as will be the bearin 101 and also the supporting roller 110. he side of the laundry tub may be notched out, as will be understood, to permit the wringer casing moving into and out of the tub. The spider or frame will be provided at its upper end with hook or bracket members 146 to engage over the upper edges of the stationary laundry tub, whereby the mechanism will be held securely in proper position within the tub. In other respects, the mechanism will be similar to that above described.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have rovided a wringer mechanism fully capab e of carrying forth the objects for which it has been designed, and although the above is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise structure set forth, as variations in the details of construction and the arrangement of partsmay be liberally resorted to, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the I claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a tub, a source of power, a wringer driving shaft in said tub, mechanism for transmitting movement from said source of power to said wrmger driving shaft, and wringer meehanism mounted upon said shaft parallel with and overlying the same and operated thereby and capa le of swinging and sliding upon said shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a tub, a power source in said tub, a wringer driving shaft mounted in said tub, wringer mechanism operated'by said shaft and supported upon the latter and capable of swinging and sliding on the same, and a driving connection between said source of power and said wringer driving shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, a power mechanism, a wringer driving shaft, an operative connection between said power mechanism and said shaft, a casing pivotall mounted upon said wringer drivin shaft and capable of sliding longitudina ly and pivotally swinging thereon, and wringer mechanism within said casing operatively connected with said wringer drivlng shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a tub, a wringer driving shaft mounted in said tub, a casing slidably and rotatably mounted upon said shaft, wringer mechanism in said casing operatively connected with said shaft, and power mechanism for operating said wringer driving shaft.

5. In a device of the class described, a, support, a shaft mounted upon said support, a casing hingedly and slidably mounted upon said shaft, wringer mechanism in said casing operatively connected with said shaft, and means in connection with said shaft cooperating to secure said casing in adjusted positions.

6. In a device of the class described, a support, an angular shaft on said support, a gear having a squared bore receiving said shaft, trunnions secured to said gear, a casing enclosing said shaft and gear, bearings in said casing embracing said trunnions, the said casing having a bayonet slot, an end bearing secured to said support and extending through said slot, clamping means for moving said end bearingtowa rd sa d support, wringer mechanism in said casing operatively driven by said gear, and means for driving said angular shaft.

7 In a device of the class described, a tub, a shaft in said tub, a casing enclosing said shaft and slidably and rockably mounted thereon, the said tub having a notch therein through which said casing is adapted to move when in upright position, a roller sup porting said casing, means for driving said shaft, wringer mechanism in said casing 0peratively connected with said shaft, and means for locking said casing in upright position.

8. In a washing machine, a frame, power mechanism carried by said frame, a wringer operating shaft carried by said frame, a wringer casing slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, a power connection between said power mechanism and said wringer operating shaft, means for maintaining said wringer mechanism in adjusted positions upon the. wringer operating shaft, and means whereby the frame may be secured within a tub.

9. In a device of the class described, a tub, power mechanism confined wholly within the tub, a wringer supported within the tub and adapted to be confined wholly Within the same, the said wringer adapted to be moved to extend upwardly beyond the upper limits of the tub and outwardly beyond the side of the same, a driving connection between said power mechanism and said wringer mechanism, and means for maintaining the wringer mechanism in adjusted position.

10. In a device of the class described, a tub, a shaft arranged within said tub near and parallel with one wall thereof, the said shaft being capable of moving toward or away from said wall, a casing enclosing and supported by said shaft and capable of sliding longitudinally thereof and of swinging pivotally upon the said shaft, a portion of said casing being at all times interposed between said shaft and said tub wall, means for moving the said shaft toward said wall whereby to bring the said portion against the wall, and wringer mechanism within said casing and operatively connected with said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH CROSSLEY. 

